Duration
9 Days
Physical rate
Moderate
Starting city
Zurich
Available
April 2024 / March 2025
Detailed day by day description
Introduction
This tour is part of our flexible coach touring range, guaranteed with a minimum of 2 people. Once the tour is booked, it is guaranteed so it will definitely go ahead, and will never cancel.
This tour is guided in English only. Please note if English speaking attendance numbers are low, the tour can become bilingual either accompanied by two tour leaders, one for each language, or a single tour leader providing explanations in both languages.
The tour offers flexibility, allowing you to customize it to your preferences. By clicking 'Quote or Book,' you will have the choice to select your desired start and end dates and destinations within the tour's defined parameters. Given this flexibility, it's important to note that the same people, tour guides or drivers may not be on your entire journey.
IMPORTANT: Please note that hotel check-in time is typically at 14:00 p.m. If you need early room access, consider booking an additional night at the start of your trip.
If you have booked additional nights, your room will be prepared upon arrival, but your trip guide will generally only contact you when the scheduled activities begin. At reception, you’ll find a sign with contact details and assistance hours for our staff. Until the tour begins, your schedule is free, and the hotel staff can assist with any inquiries.
Optional activities: During your trip, your guide may offer optional activities. We recommend booking these activities well in advance through the Europamundo app or your "My Trip" link to ensure availability. Last-minute bookings may result in limited availability (e.g., tickets, coach seats).
Note: The timings in this itinerary are indicative. The guide may adjust schedules as needed to make sure you have the best experience.
Scenery: Beautiful landscapes throughout the day; meadows, hills, picturesque villages and great views over Lake Geneva.
Note: We recommend wearing warm clothes to enjoy the boat ride on the deck.
08:00 a.m. – Departure from Zurich. We’ll travel through beautiful landscapes.
09:45 a.m. - Bern. The capital of the country and one of the most beautiful historic cities in Switzerland. We’ll go to the Rose Garden viewpoint to admire the beautiful landscape of the city. Free time to explore and have lunch.
01:00 p.m. – Departure from Bern. We’ll head towards the French-speaking region of Switzerland.
01:45 p.m. - Fribourg. A historic bilingual city with an interesting and historic town center.
02:45 p.m. – Departure from Fribourg.
04:15 p.m. – Nyon. Arrival in this small Roman city on the shore of the lake. After some time to walk around, we’ll travel to France by boat on Lake Geneva (commonly known in France as lac Léman) at approximately 04:40 p.m. The journey will last about 20 minutes. This boat ride offers a delightful opportunity to enjoy the lake (in some cases, we may take the reverse service, Yvoire-Nyon).
05:00 p.m. – Yvoire. Arrival in this beautiful medieval village with fortified gates, a castle, flowery streets, and beautiful views over the lake.
06:30 p.m. – Departure from Yvoire.
07:30 p.m. – Geneva.
Note: Accommodation will usually be in the French outskirts of the town.
Scenery: Very beautiful scenery on Lake Geneva. Great lakes, with tall snowcapped mountains in the distance. In the afternoon, we’ll travel through the mountains alongside beautiful villages with wooden houses.
After breakfast, we’ll include a panoramic tour of Geneva with our guide or a local guide; this city at the south-western end of Lake Geneva is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, the Red Cross, and numerous other headquarters of international entities. We’ll visit the Palais des Nations (headquarters of the United Nations in Europe), the beautiful English Garden with its flower clock, admire the Jet d’Eau, the tallest fountain in Europe, and will have a chance to stroll around the old city and have lunch.
12:45 p.m. – Departure from Geneva. Our route will follow Lake Geneva amidst magnificent vineyard scenery (a UNESCO World Heritage site).
02:15 p.m. - Chillon Castle. Arrival at this fantastic medieval castle built on the waters of Geneva Lake. Tickets included.
03:15 p.m. – Departure from Chillon Castle. On our route, we’ll pass by the cosmopolitan city of Montreux.
04:00 p.m. - Gruyeres, a very picturesque walled tourist village famous for its cheese production, near which there are some of the main Swiss chocolate factories (NESTLÉ among others). We’ll visit the Cailler factory, with a tasting included!
05:45 p.m. – Departure from Gruyeres. Magnificent mountain views. We’ll cross areas with scenic villages and wooden architecture.
06:45 p.m. – Arrival in Leysin, a beautiful holiday village known for its winter sports resort and hiking opportunities. Dinner will be included.
Note: At times, accommodation may be arranged in another Swiss town nestled in the heart of the Alps, often Martigny.
Scenery: This section of our route through the Alps offers the most breathtaking views, featuring towering peaks that remain snow-covered year-round and beautiful alpine lakes.
Suggestion: Bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes; we’ll ascend to the high mountains where you can walk along the suspension bridge! It is also advisable to bring a raincoat. If the day is sunny, remember to use sunscreen.
08:30 a.m. – Departure from Leysin. High mountain landscapes of great beauty will surround us, and you’ll be able to see ice and snow throughout most of the year.
09:00 a.m. – We’ll take the cable car up to the Glacier 3000 mountain station, one of the most spectacular points in Switzerland. From its terraces, you’ll be able to admire the alpine landscapes. You’ll be able to walk on the suspension bridge between two mountain peaks, enter the Ice Cathedral, or enjoy the Fun Park.
11:30 a.m. – Departure to Interlaken through beautiful mountain and lake scenery.
01:15 p.m. – Interlaken. A small town situated between two lakes and dominated by impressive mountain scenery. Time for lunch.
03:00 p.m. – Departure from Interlaken.
03:45 p.m. – Aare Gorge. We’ll include admission to this impressive gorge and walk along its path.
04:45 p.m. – Departure from the Aare Gorge. We’ll take the Susten Pass, one of the most beautiful roads in Switzerland between glaciers that will lead us to the Italian-speaking region.
07:45 p.m. – Accommodation in Chiasso, a Swiss city on the Italian border.
Notes:
-Occasionally, due to weather conditions such as rain or strong winds, the cable car to Glacier 3000 may not operate. The ascent is not authorized for children under 2 years old.
-The Susten Pass Road is typically closed from mid-October until the end of May. In such cases, the journey will follow alternative routes.
-Due to the lack of hotel availability in Chiasso, accommodation may sometimes be provided in the Como area.
Scenery: Beautiful landscapes along the highway. Lakes and mountains.
08:00 a.m. – Departure from Chiasso.
08:30 a.m. - Lugano. Arrival in the capital of Italian Switzerland. Enjoy a beautiful stroll by its lake.
10:00 a.m. - Departure from Lugano. Continuing along the highway, we’ll cross the Gotthard Road Tunnel to reach German Switzerland.
12:00 p.m. – Bürglen. We’ll visit the tiny village where William Tell was born and see the 16th-century chapel with paintings illustrating his life. If you wish, you can also visit the William Tell Museum.
12:45 p.m. - Departure from Bürglen.
01:00 p.m. - Altdorf. We’ll arrive at this beautiful city, with a main square that will show us more traces of William Tell’s history.
02:30 p.m. - Departure from Altdorf towards Lucerne.
03:15 p.m. - Lucerne. We’ll have free time to explore this beautiful city by its namesake lake. We recommend going on an optional cruise along Lake Lucerne, considered one of the most beautiful in Switzerland.
Scenery: Beautiful Swiss landscapes.
Note: Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring the meadows of Heidi’s village. We’ll be staying overnight in Feldkirch, a little town in Austria near the Swiss border. Remember to bring Euros for your time in Feldkirch.
08:30 a.m. – Departure from Lucerne. We’ll travel around Lake Lucerne, also known as the Lake of the Four Cantons in French.
09:30 a.m. - Einsiedeln. Its immense baroque abbey is the main point of pilgrimage in Switzerland. You’ll have time to visit it and stroll around the city.
10:30 a.m. – Departure from Einsiedeln. We’ll continue towards the east of Switzerland, passing through beautiful landscapes of hills and lakes. We’ll drive through the picturesque village of Maienfeld, the inspiration for the novel/story of Heidi, famous for its cartoon adaptation.
12:00 p.m. - Heididorf. We’ll stop at the place where "Heidi’s House" is located a picturesque spot with beautiful landscapes that we’ll reach via a pedestrian path (tickets not included, admission is free).
12:45 p.m. – Departure from Heididorf. We’ll enter the small independent country of Liechtenstein.
01:15 p.m. - Vaduz. With its castle perched on a steep hill above the city, we’ll have time to walk and enjoy lunch.
03:45 p.m. – Departure from Vaduz.
04:15 p.m. - Feldkirch. In Austria, on the border with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany; a charming walled town with a beautiful medieval quarter and castle. You’ll have free time and accommodation.
Scenery: Picturesque views throughout the journey; lakes, charming villages.
Note: Mainau Island is in Germany; you may need some euros.
08:15 a.m. – We will depart from Feldkirch and head to Switzerland.
09:00 a.m. - St. Gallen. Its center, featuring a magnificent cathedral and historic old town, is listed as a World Heritage site.
10:00 a.m. - Departure from St. Gallen. We will continue along Lake Constance, which lies between Germany and Switzerland.
11:15 a.m. - Constance. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through this elegant city.
12:45 p.m. - Departure from Constance.
01:15 p.m. - Mainau Island. Accessible via a pedestrian bridge. We include admission to explore its beautiful botanical garden. Time for lunch.
03:30 p.m. - Departure from Mainau Island.
04:15 p.m. - Stein am Rhein. A picturesque village on the banks of the Rhine River, renowned for its charming houses adorned with painted walls.
05:15 p.m. - Departure from Stein am Rhein.
05:45 p.m. - Rhine Falls. Our itinerary includes a visit to the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
06:45 p.m. - Departure from Rhine Falls. We will travel on the highway to Zurich.
07:30 p.m. - Arrival in Zurich.
Note: Today’s itinerary is unique, featuring a boat journey across Lake Zurich and a return trip by train. Depending on the number of travelers, transfers to and from the city center may be conducted using public transport. Please note that the boat schedules may change, and the itinerary may be adjusted accordingly.
09:00 a.m. - We’ll depart from the hotel for a tranquil day. Accompanied by our guide, we’ll take a leisurely walk-through Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and its financial and cultural hub. Renowned for its banking industry, Zurich has twice been recognized as the city with the best quality of life in the world.
10:30 a.m. - We’ll embark on an approximately two-hour cruise on Lake Zurich. The boat will make brief stops, allowing us to admire the charming villages along the way.
12:30 p.m. - Rapperswil - Arriving in this quaint and picturesque village, famous for its medieval castle, we’ll have time to explore and enjoy lunch.
03:00 p.m. - We’ll return to Zurich by train, experiencing the efficiency and punctuality of the Swiss railway system. The journey back to Zurich will take just under 35 minutes. Afterward, you´ll have free time to explore the city on your own.
Note: Please be aware that the hotel check-out time is usually 10:00 a.m. You can leave your luggage in reception upon check-out, allowing you to explore the city without carrying your bags. You can retrieve your luggage at your convenience later in the day. If you require additional time to use your room, we recommend booking an extra night at the end of your tour.